Is Residential Drug Treatment My Best Choice After a Relapse?

The best drug treatment program for you or your loved one after a relapse could be either residential or intensive outpatient. The choice of program usually depends on your rehabilitative needs and extrinsic factors such as career, family, and academic obligations.

The dual diagnosis done during evaluation is designed to determine the severity of your addiction and the need for treating co-occurring mental health conditions linked to drug abuse. The findings of the physician and mental health specialist will help guide the decision of whether residential drug treatment is your best choice after relapse.

Why People Relapse After Drug Addiction Treatment

To understand why people relapse after drug addiction treatment, you need to first know how drug abuse affects the brain. First, people do not necessarily set out to become addicted. This is regardless of whether they use or abuse marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine or prescription opioids such as codeine or morphine,

However, these drugs produce a feel-good, euphoric effect that makes the brain beg for more and more of it. Frequent and consistent drug use eventually increases your tolerance level. Before you realize it, you’re hooked on drugs.

Hence, at the core of drug addiction relapse is the fact that substance abuse disorder is a chronic condition that changes the way the brain functions. There is no cure for this disorder which has a high risk of relapse comparative with health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This is according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse which also reported that there is a 40 to 60 percent risk of relapse among people treated for addiction.

Detox Alone Increases the Risk of Relapse

Cleansing the body of drugs, also known as detoxification, without mental health treatment increases the risk of relapse. The chance for overdose also becomes higher than before treatment. Further, the more severe the addiction, the more comprehensive treatment should be.

While rehab centers are set up with the objective of helping you recover from addiction, the nature and content of their programs may differ. This could mean the difference between long-term recovery and relapse.

Studies show that the chance of recovery and sustained sobriety increases when drug treatment is delivered by conducting medically-assisted detox followed by psychotherapy and behavioral modification counseling. Sometimes social and occupational needs must also be addressed.

However, the greater responsibility is on you to apply the relapse prevention tools and tips acquired in therapy to maintain your sobriety. This includes a daily commitment to avoid the environmental triggers of substance use. It involves staying actively connected to your emotional support network consisting of your loved ones, therapist, and community sober groups such as Narcotics Anonymous.

Is Intensive Outpatient Drug Treatment Right for Me?

Like residential rehab, intensive outpatient usually involves medically-supervised detox followed by mental health therapy. The main difference is you get to return home at the end of the day and continue to attend to life obligations. Despite your relapse, an outpatient program may be suitable for you if:

• You have mild to moderate addiction
• Round-the-clock medical supervision is not necessary in your case
• You need to work, go to school, or care for your family
• You are accountable and have demonstrated you could manage drug use triggers
• Your risk of relapse is not considered an imminent threat to recovery
• You are unable to afford residential treatment

When Residential Treatment May Be a Better Choice for Those Who Relapsed

Relapse is not a sign that treatment failed. Recovery and sobriety involve various aspects. They include your level of commitment to recovery and staying sober, uncontrolled environmental triggers, mental disorder relapse, and the strength of your support system.

Sometimes, changing or modifying the treatment approach is necessary to further reduce the risk of relapse. Notwithstanding, inpatient drug treatment may be more suitable for you under the following circumstances:

• You struggle with severe addiction
• 24-hour medical supervision is required to help you manage severe withdrawal symptoms
• You have a higher risk of relapse due to underlying mental health issues, e.g, depression
• You have a history of one or more relapses
• Work, school, or family commitments do not prevent you from entering residential rehab
• You can afford residential treatment

Connecting with a Rehab Center in South West Florida

When choosing a rehab center, two important considerations are the location of the center and the programs offered. There are treatment centers in South West Florida with programs and services specially designed for helping people like you who are seeking to re-enter rehab due to a relapse.

Services may include multidimensional therapy, family therapy, and holistic therapy to increase the chance of sustained sobriety. You can find out more by making that call today to ask about re-admission for you or your loved one. Their professional staff is compassionate and understands that relapse is likely for more than 40% of people previously treated.

You’ve overcome addiction before and you can unleash that inner strength and commitment to beat addiction again. The sooner you get treated, the sooner you can regain control over your life! Call one of our counselors today at 844-639-8371.

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